03/19/2022
Hey O'k friends and families,
Transitions are happening, and change is good! Winter is getting old, and Spring is surely on it's way....
We are not formally running a CSA Cooperative this year---but to help keep gardens growing and to disperse what I've collected over the years, I'm planning to host a CSS--which is a Community Supported Seed + Seedling share here in Traverse City on Second Street.
I've been working to create O'k CSA Cooperative with a great group of you fine folks, and growing good food and building a little community and network of garden-farmers here in Traverse City, at the Community Gardens at the old State Hospital farm, here on Second St. and several other land-share garden sites since 2007. It's good for me to include this timeline---because that also includes a pretty good sized community of others who've been right alongside me planting, tending, growing and harvesting.
Bringing the CSA full circle into a CSS, focused on seed and seedling distribution means that YOU can still join alongside and support our little community based network that has in the past supplied good veg etc., while ALSO seed saving.
The many seed varieties that I've saved are the ones that have produced well for us here in our temperate climate summers. I really care about these seed babes and want to get them in the hands and gardens of people who are willing and able to plant and use them to grow food and medicine and have a beautiful bouquet of flowers this summer, as well as maybe even start saving your own seeds and sharing them with others.
It's an on and on and on thing that is really a major blessing to understand. Especially that we don't have to rely on far way seed companies to do it, and yes it does take quite a lot of learning and work in the beginning to even make room to save seeds. Then....you end up being in a deeper relationship with every plant you grow in your gardens, and the food you put in your bellies!
The O'k CSS begins with sharing seeds that according to our seasonal growing chart here in NW lower MIchigan, can be planted both indoors near a south facing window sill---or in a heated hoop house through April and then eventually when the soil warms up and snow actually melts outdoors.
Don't worry though if you don't want to start seeds indoors---there are plenty of seeds in this share that can be directly sown outdoors when the weather warms up. PLUS, Later on in April, I will also include MORE veg/flower and herb seedlings and plant starts.
I have dozens, hundreds and likely thousands of seeds of many flower, veg and herb varieties--both annual and perennial seeds and all are stuffed in my big pickle jars and I'm just beginning to do the annual sort and organizing tasks, while also beginning to start seeding a few trays.
The O'k CSS is open for a limited number of share members and registration now and will begin SOON--because it is time to start some of our hot crop seedlings indoors now and soon it will be time to get peas and greens in your beds outdoors
The CSS will begin by celebrating this week of Spring Equinox and will be packaged up and placed in an envelope with your name on it in a basket on my porch. If need be I can mail it to you, but my first choice is to continue the pickup happening at 510 Second Street, on the pick-up table.
Here's a sampling of general seed types I'd include:
WEEK #1
~Tomato
~Peppers
~Onions + Leeks
~Kales + Brassicas
~Bee friendly Flowers
WEEK #2 Share:
~Greens + Brassicas
~Herbs
~Flowers, perennials and annuals
~Fruit and Nuts
~Grains
PLUS whatever seeds left over from Week #1
WEEK #3 Share:
~Vines
~Squash
~Legumes, Beans + Peas
~Roots
~Flowers, perennials and annuals
~PLUS, Leftovers from Weeks #1 + #2
Beginning in May, we will offer a few weeks of seedling shares, with that schedule and plant lists tba.
I would like to ask for a sliding scale membership fee to offset costs of packaging and also factor in some of my time, gathering, storing and processing the seeds. There are also costs with seedling soil starter and amendments, and time spent growing and tending to the seedlings.
The sliding scale fee/donation of basically $50-75.00 per CSS membership...AND, for EVERY membership/donation I receive, I will give away 2 additional seed shares.
The suggested donation breaks down to about $12 per week @ $2 per seed pack and at least one tray of seedlings for $15 @ $.75 per seedling )...plus a little extra for whatever unaccounted costs may spring up.
Plus, I'll probably throw in some art now and then, because this winter I've been dabbling and teaching a bunch of nature and botanical drawing classes and soon enough Violets will be blooming!
Hope to hear from you soon, so I can get some very O'k seeds in your hands! Contact me here w. a private message and your email address.
